questions we can have whether Platini can symbolise a new era for FIFA or whether he is simply a protege of Blatter.
“I want to ask Michel whether he really believes that he can cut off his relationship with Blatter; whether he can reveal all the wrongdoings, corruptions, criminal acts committed by Blatter; whether he can really disclose all those things,” Chung said.
The South Korean is likely to prove a strong candidate as he retains enormous influence within Asian football and certainly has the financial clout to run an effective campaign.
And he is quick to play up his past record of clashing with Blatter.
In 2002, Chung was one of a number of executive committee members who actively campaigned against Blatter’s re-election, backing African rival Issa Hayatou and accusing the FIFA president of misusing funds.
In the interview, Chung ridiculed Blatter for denying any responsibility for the scandal that has engulfed FIFA and pointing accusatory fingers at those around him.
“President Blatter is like a cannibal eating his parents and then crying he’s an orphan. He tries to blame everybody except himself,” Chung said.
“If I get elected... I’ll try to have more transparency and development. I’ll try to eliminate corruption,” he added.
Swiss authorities investigating FIFA are focusing attention on the shock decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Asked if he would consider taking the competition away from Qatar if elected president, Chung said it was too early to comment given the absence of any “concrete evidence of wrongdoing” by the emirate.
However, he did pledge to release, in its entirety, the report FIFA commissioned from former US district attorney Michael Garcia into the bidding processes that awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar.
Garcia submitted his findings in September last year, but FIFA has repeatedly refused to publish the full report.
“It goes without saying that it should be released,” Chung said.
“It’s a serious criminal act, trying to hide important information from the public. It is not a matter of discretion, it’s a matter of criminal behaviour,” he added. Candidates have until October 26 — exactly four months before the vote — to come forward.
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